To The Penn Community:
It is never easy when someone you know passes away. It is extremely difficult and beyond my comprehension when a young woman with her whole life ahead of her commits suicide. I write this letter in the wake of Madison Holleran's tragic death but this letter is not about Madison and all the amazing things she accomplished, this letter is for the Penn Community and for all the students who have ever struggled with any type of mental health issues.
You know it is weird because people die everyday, and when you respond people tend to say just focus on yourself, make yourself a better person. Well, maybe we have to stop focusing on ourselves and maybe we have to recognize that there is a major problem. It is unfortunate that we are busy blaming the victims when we are not looking at the institutions. For example, the mental institutions and hospitals that are incapable of helping people with so called "mental illness." Or, the psychiatrists and doctors that believe that prescribing a pill will make things better. Or, the Universities that are "putting education first." Putting Education before Health is not part of any sustainable system in the 21st century.
I learned the hard way that Universities and Institutions do not care about student's feelings they just care about keeping their jobs and following protocol.
There is a known link between Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI)-prescriptions and suicidal behaviors. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant. So sadly, the pill that doctors prescribe may lead to more hard than good. Unfortunately, the patient believes they are seeking help and the psychiatrist prescribes an SSRI. One of the most commonly prescribed medicines for depression for adolescents and college-aged students is Zoloft.
The student in seek of any type of help takes the pill and then they wonder why their feelings get worse and sadly, some people act on their feelings and end up committing suicide. The saddest part of suicide is that nearly every single person that survives a suicide attempt regrets trying. The amount of devastation that suicide can inflict on a community and a family can not be quantified. That is why facts and statistics are of little importance when it comes to the value of an individual's life.
Let's stop pretending like the problems do not exist.
Let's stop trying to put band-aids on bullet wounds.
Let's recognize that there is a major problem, and it is how institutions such as UPenn treat the so called "mentally ill."
How many deaths does it take to realize that there is something wrong with the system not the individual?
I know that millions of people die every year, countless people die everyday, but how many great people need to die for us to recognize that there is a problem?
Three undergrad students at UPenn have died since winter break. At least one of those is due to suicide and this is not the first UPenn undergrad to commit suicide.
When are we going to realize that we have to put health before the student body's education?
Let's stand up now and try to make a change, let's recognize that there is a problem, awareness is the first step and action is the second step, now that we are more than aware that there are problems on college campuses, specifically Ivy League campuses, specifically Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cornell and University of Pennsylvania. With all of these problems, it makes it difficult to hurrah for the red and the blue. It makes it very difficult for me to proudly say that I am a Penn graduate. One of the most upsetting things in this world is recognizing that there is a problem and doing nothing to stop it.
Let's take action and work on what we can do to prevent the next suicide.
It is too bad UPenn Administrators are unable to recognize that there is an issue and are unable to affect change on any measurable scale. It is too bad Penn Administrators are unable to recognize that 18-25 year olds are left with major mental health problems that out-dated procedure and practcies are not going to fix. No amount of money, or part of the budget is going to fix the problem.
We need the right people in the right places at the right time. We need people who care, people who truly care. We need health care professionals that have some idea of the pressures of achieving at a top ranked school such as University of Pennsylvania. We need the entire staff to understand that mental health is not something to be stigmatized, and stereotyped. Depression is a real illness and those with depression need real help from people who understand mental health and mood disorders.
Suicide is never the answer. Medicine is only part of the solution, but talk therapy and the proper facilities and proper people must be in place to properly combat depression and other mood disorders.
It is never easy when someone you know passes away. It is extremely difficult and beyond my comprehension when a young woman with her whole life ahead of her commits suicide. I write this letter in the wake of Madison Holleran's tragic death but this letter is not about Madison and all the amazing things she accomplished, this letter is for the Penn Community and for all the students who have ever struggled with any type of mental health issues.
You know it is weird because people die everyday, and when you respond people tend to say just focus on yourself, make yourself a better person. Well, maybe we have to stop focusing on ourselves and maybe we have to recognize that there is a major problem. It is unfortunate that we are busy blaming the victims when we are not looking at the institutions. For example, the mental institutions and hospitals that are incapable of helping people with so called "mental illness." Or, the psychiatrists and doctors that believe that prescribing a pill will make things better. Or, the Universities that are "putting education first." Putting Education before Health is not part of any sustainable system in the 21st century.
I learned the hard way that Universities and Institutions do not care about student's feelings they just care about keeping their jobs and following protocol.
There is a known link between Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI)-prescriptions and suicidal behaviors. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant. So sadly, the pill that doctors prescribe may lead to more hard than good. Unfortunately, the patient believes they are seeking help and the psychiatrist prescribes an SSRI. One of the most commonly prescribed medicines for depression for adolescents and college-aged students is Zoloft.
The student in seek of any type of help takes the pill and then they wonder why their feelings get worse and sadly, some people act on their feelings and end up committing suicide. The saddest part of suicide is that nearly every single person that survives a suicide attempt regrets trying. The amount of devastation that suicide can inflict on a community and a family can not be quantified. That is why facts and statistics are of little importance when it comes to the value of an individual's life.
Let's stop pretending like the problems do not exist.
Let's stop trying to put band-aids on bullet wounds.
Let's recognize that there is a major problem, and it is how institutions such as UPenn treat the so called "mentally ill."
How many deaths does it take to realize that there is something wrong with the system not the individual?
I know that millions of people die every year, countless people die everyday, but how many great people need to die for us to recognize that there is a problem?
Three undergrad students at UPenn have died since winter break. At least one of those is due to suicide and this is not the first UPenn undergrad to commit suicide.
When are we going to realize that we have to put health before the student body's education?
Let's stand up now and try to make a change, let's recognize that there is a problem, awareness is the first step and action is the second step, now that we are more than aware that there are problems on college campuses, specifically Ivy League campuses, specifically Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cornell and University of Pennsylvania. With all of these problems, it makes it difficult to hurrah for the red and the blue. It makes it very difficult for me to proudly say that I am a Penn graduate. One of the most upsetting things in this world is recognizing that there is a problem and doing nothing to stop it.
Let's take action and work on what we can do to prevent the next suicide.
It is too bad UPenn Administrators are unable to recognize that there is an issue and are unable to affect change on any measurable scale. It is too bad Penn Administrators are unable to recognize that 18-25 year olds are left with major mental health problems that out-dated procedure and practcies are not going to fix. No amount of money, or part of the budget is going to fix the problem.
We need the right people in the right places at the right time. We need people who care, people who truly care. We need health care professionals that have some idea of the pressures of achieving at a top ranked school such as University of Pennsylvania. We need the entire staff to understand that mental health is not something to be stigmatized, and stereotyped. Depression is a real illness and those with depression need real help from people who understand mental health and mood disorders.
Suicide is never the answer. Medicine is only part of the solution, but talk therapy and the proper facilities and proper people must be in place to properly combat depression and other mood disorders.
Let's make a change, let's start today, let's stop blaming the victim and let's realize:
Change is Possible.
Let's wake up, and recognize that suicidal ideations are a part of life and let's stop living in denial and let's take action today. Let's work on prevention, let's work on saving people's lives as opposed to perpetuating the same old plan, keeping the same bureaucracy in place, that follows the same protocol that we've been using since the revolution or since the 1800s or since world war II or since the DSM-II. Let's start making some changes.
This is the 21st century and nearly every single person in America has faced symptoms of depression or at some point in their life will.
Maybe, we have to live rationally and not by the University Rule Book.
Let's wake up, let's start making some changes today.
Let's recognize that the future, the smartest individual in the country tomorrow is some kid struggling on a college campus right now.
Some kid that is contemplating whether or not living his life is worth living is going to change the world one day. You know "kids these days".. While some of us have various priorities, many of us are trying to make the world a better place, and most of are just hoping for a better tomorrow. We can make the world a better place, together.
Let's do what we can now to stop the next student from committing suicide tomorrow or later today. We all know that we have to stop problems upstream, so let's work on rational intervention and prevention. Let's make a plan.
Step One - Let's recognize that Health and more specifically mental health is the most important aspect of a student's life and education. For all the staff that are not capable of understanding the importance of mental health they should take sensitivity training.
For now let's just work on step one.
Let's place Health before Education. Let's start changing the way we think - so we can change the way we act - so we can work towards saving someone's life.
Let's stop blaming the victim and let's start creating rational plans for prevention.
Let's start right now. Let's try to understand that if our mental health is not intact then students will not be mentally prepared to learn.
Let's learn to put health first. Let's learn together as one community made up of many individuals. Let's recognize that some of the individuals who make up this community are suffering from mental health issues. Let's remember that a team is only as stong as it's weakest link, so let's drop our egos and let's live for a better tomorrow, let's make this the last student to commit suicide due to the pressures of being a high achiever and perfectionist at University of Pennsylvania.
Let's learn to change as individuals, but let's do it together as one strong Penn Community.
Let's proudly say Hurrah for the Red and Blue!
Let's evolve. Let's change. Let's adapt with the times. Let's allow recent alumni to proudly say they are Penn graduates as many great individuals have said in the past.
Let's learn from the past so we can take steps towards a more understanding and brighter future.
Penn Alum
SEAS 2012
Change is Possible.
Let's wake up, and recognize that suicidal ideations are a part of life and let's stop living in denial and let's take action today. Let's work on prevention, let's work on saving people's lives as opposed to perpetuating the same old plan, keeping the same bureaucracy in place, that follows the same protocol that we've been using since the revolution or since the 1800s or since world war II or since the DSM-II. Let's start making some changes.
This is the 21st century and nearly every single person in America has faced symptoms of depression or at some point in their life will.
Maybe, we have to live rationally and not by the University Rule Book.
Let's wake up, let's start making some changes today.
Let's recognize that the future, the smartest individual in the country tomorrow is some kid struggling on a college campus right now.
Some kid that is contemplating whether or not living his life is worth living is going to change the world one day. You know "kids these days".. While some of us have various priorities, many of us are trying to make the world a better place, and most of are just hoping for a better tomorrow. We can make the world a better place, together.
Let's do what we can now to stop the next student from committing suicide tomorrow or later today. We all know that we have to stop problems upstream, so let's work on rational intervention and prevention. Let's make a plan.
Step One - Let's recognize that Health and more specifically mental health is the most important aspect of a student's life and education. For all the staff that are not capable of understanding the importance of mental health they should take sensitivity training.
For now let's just work on step one.
Let's place Health before Education. Let's start changing the way we think - so we can change the way we act - so we can work towards saving someone's life.
Let's stop blaming the victim and let's start creating rational plans for prevention.
Let's start right now. Let's try to understand that if our mental health is not intact then students will not be mentally prepared to learn.
Let's learn to put health first. Let's learn together as one community made up of many individuals. Let's recognize that some of the individuals who make up this community are suffering from mental health issues. Let's remember that a team is only as stong as it's weakest link, so let's drop our egos and let's live for a better tomorrow, let's make this the last student to commit suicide due to the pressures of being a high achiever and perfectionist at University of Pennsylvania.
Let's learn to change as individuals, but let's do it together as one strong Penn Community.
Let's proudly say Hurrah for the Red and Blue!
Let's evolve. Let's change. Let's adapt with the times. Let's allow recent alumni to proudly say they are Penn graduates as many great individuals have said in the past.
Let's learn from the past so we can take steps towards a more understanding and brighter future.
Penn Alum
SEAS 2012
